Water heater



A. P. RITTER July 29, 1952 WATER HEATER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed April 11, 1949 INVENTOR. ANDREW P. RITTER FIG.I.

ATTORNEYS A. P. RITTER WATER HEATER July 29, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed April 11, 1949 INVENTOR.

ANDREW P. RITTER ATTORNEYS Patented July 29, 1952 WATER HEATER Andrew P. Hitter, Lansing, Mich, assignor te Piatt Products Corporation, Lansing, Mich, a

- corporation of Michigan Application April 11, 1949, Serial No. 86,765

8 Claims. 1

The invention relates to liquid heaters and refers more particularly to electric water heaters.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide an improved construction of liquid heater which may be readily converted from the pourin type to the pressure feed type.

The invention has for another object the provision of an improved construction of liquid heater having a heating tank and a reservoir connected by an improved coupler which may be readily attached or detached.

The invention has for a further object to provide an improved construction of coupler between the heating tank and reservoir having means for conducting heat to the reservoir to temper the liquid in the reservoir.

With these and other objects in View, the invention resides in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are elevations at right angles to each other, partly broken away and in section of the liquid heater embodying the invention;

Figure 3 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 1 showing a modified construction of coupler between the heating tank and the reservoir.

Figure 4 is a sectional View showing another modified construction of coupler between the heating tank and the reservoir.

Figure 5 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 2 showing a modified construction.

The heater comprises the vertical cylindrical heating tank I, the vertical cylindrical casing 2 encircling and spaced from the heating tank and having an open upper end terminating above the dome of the heating tank, and the reservoir 3 mounted on the casing. The reservoir has its cylindrical side wall extending downwardly beyond its bottom and telescopically engaging the upper end of the casing and secured thereto by suitable means such as the screws 4, the lower edge of the side wall of the reservoir preferably resting on the annular bead 5 of the casing.

6 is a U-shaped, or hairpin shaped, electric heating element extending horizontally within the lower portion of the heating tank I and mounted on the plate 1. The terminals of this heating element are connected by the wires 8 and 9 to a terminal of the thermostat it and to a terminal of the terminal strip II. The other terminal of the thermostat is connected by the wire l2 to the other terminal of the terminal strip. The terminal strip is suitably mounted on and insulated from the bracket l3 secured to the side wall of the housing it which is located between the heating tank and the casing and secured to the latter. The two terminals of the terminal strip are adapted to be connected to the source of electrical energy by the wires [5 and Hi leading out through the bottom of the casing 2. The thermostat ill is of conventional design and is mounted on the plate 1 with its housing in heat conducting contact with the heating tank I.

The heating tank I has the inlet pipe I? which connects into the lower portion of the heating tank and extends vertically between the heating tank and casing. The reservoir has the outlet pipe is extending from its bottom wall and terminating above the upper end of the inlet pipe and in substantial alignment or registration therewith. The heating tank is also provided with the outlet pipe l9 extending from its dome closely adjacent to the upper end of the inlet pipe and provided with the faucet 20 located outside the casing. The upper end portion of the casing 2 is formed with the opening 2! therethrough located below the bead '5 and adjacent to and opposite the ends of the inlet and outlet pipes ll and I8 respectively. This opening is normally closed by the panel 22 suitably secured to the casing 2 as by the screws 23 and this panel is formed with a hole for the passage of the outlet pipe lil of the heating tank. The rubber grommet 24 encircling and having a tight fit with the outlet pipe [9 abuts the outside of the panel 22. The coupler between the inlet and outlet pipes I! and [8 comprises the flexible rubber hose 25 sleeved over the ends of these pipes and clamped in watertight engagement therewith by the hose clamps 26 having their ends secured together by suitable means such as the screws 2'? with the heads of the screws facing in a direction toward the opening 2! so that they are readily accessible through the opening when the panel 22 is removed. I

Suitable insulating material 23 is located between the heating tank I and the casing 2 and around the housing it and also between the heating tank I and the reservoir 3.

For the purpose of readily converting the heater from the pour-in gravity feed type, in which the liquid to be heated is first poured into the reservoir, to the pressure feed type, the lower end of the inlet pipe H is provided with the nip- 1 pic 29 extending through the casing 2 and closed by the cap 3 3 threaded onto the nipple and the upper end of the inlet pipe ii is externally threaded so that upon removal of the hose 25 the 3 cap 36 may be removed from the nipple 29 and threaded onto the upper end of the inlet pipe to close the same and the nipple 29 connected to a water main. A rubber grommet like the rubber grommet 24 has a tight fit with the nipple 29 and abuts the outside of the casing 2.

For the purpose of directing the water flow from the inlet pipe ll downwardly toward the bottom of the heating tank I there is the deflector 32 having the downwardly and inwardly inclined top wall 33 and the side walls 3 3. This deflector is preferably secured to the interior of the heating tank by being welded thereto.

In the modified construction of coupler shown in Figure 3 the rubber hose 35 is reinforced and held from collapse by the sheet metal sleeve 35 within the rubber hose, this sleeve being preferably longitudinally split and being adapted to be sleeved over the ends of the inlet pipe H for the heating tank and the outlet pipe it of the reservoir. This sleeve is in heat conducting contact with these ends and serves also to conduct heat from the heating tank to the reservoir through the inlet and outlet pipes so that the liquid, such as water, in the reservoir will be tempered. In this construction the ends of the rubber hose and also the ends of the sheet metal sleeve are clamped in place and the construction made watertight by the hose clamps 26' having their ends secured together by the screws 21.

Figure 4 shows another coupler construction comprising the nipple 3's threaded on the inlet pipe H for the heating tank and sleeved over the lower end portion of the outlet pipe 18 of the reservoir and the nut 38 encircling the outlet pipe and threaded onto the nipple, suitable packing 39 being provided between the end of the nipple and the bottom of the nut. With this construction the nipple may directly serve to conduct heat from the inlet pipe to the outlet pipe or may cooperate with the nut to conduct heat.

In the modified water heater of Figure 5, the construction and arrangement of parts is very similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 with or without the couplers of Figures 3 and 4. More particularly, the liquid heater has the heating tank 40 encircled by the cylindrical casing 44 upon which is mounted the reservoir 42 spaced above the heating tank. The reservoir has the outlet pipe 43 in substantial alignment with the inlet pipe A l of the heating tank with the free ends of these pipes adjacent each other and the opening 45 in the casing. This opening is normally closed by the panel 45 which is detachably secured to the casing and may be readily removed to providefor coupling the outlet and inlet pipes 63 and M respectively to place the same in communication with each other. ll is a nipple extending through the lower end of the casing 41 and connecting into the lower end of the inlet pipe 44, this nipple being normally closed by the cap 48 when the heater is being used as a pour-in gravity 'feed type heater.

For the purpose of converting the heater to the pressure feed type the valve 69 is provided in the inlet pipe 54 and having the valve stem 58 extending through the casing 4i and the knob i secured to the outer end of the valve stem so that the valve may be readily operated. With this construction the valve may be readily closed by manually manipulating the knob and the cap 58 readily unscrewed from the nipple 47 and the latter then connected to a water main.

From the above description, it will be readily seen that I have provided an improved heater for liquid, such as water, having an improved construction of coupler between the inlet pipe for the heating tank and the outlet pipe of the reservoir and that this coupler is located adjacent the opening in the casing so that it is readily accessible upon removing the panel closing the opening. It will also be seen that I have provided an improved liquid heater which is so constructed that it may be readily converted from the pour-in gravity feed type to the pressure feed type.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A liquid heater comprising a heating tank, a casing encircling and spaced from said tank and provided with an opening therethrough, a reservoir mounted on said casing above and. spaced from said tank, insulating material between said tank, casing and reservoir, an inlet pipe for said tank, an outlet pipe for said reservoir, said pipes being located within said casing and having their free ends adjacent the opening in said casing, a coupler within said casing for said pipes having a flexible hose sleeved over the free ends of said pipes and clamps encircling said hose for securing the same tosaid pipes, and a panel detachably secured to said casing for closing the opening therein.

2. A liquid heater comprising a heating tank and a casing encircling and spaced from said tank and provided with an opening through its upper portion, a reservoir mounted on said casing above the opening and above and spaced from said tank, insulating material between said tank and casing and tank and reservoir, an inlet pipe for said tank, an outlet pipe for said reser voir, said pipes being located within said casing and having their free ends adjacent the opening in said casing, a flexible hose within said casing and sleeved over the free ends of said pipes, clamps encircling the hose and free ends of said pipes, a panel detachably secured to said casing for closing the opening therethrough and an outlet pipe for said tank extending through said panel.

3. A liquid heater comprising a heating tank, a casing encircling and spaced from said tank, a reservoir mounted on said casing above and spaced from said tank, an inlet pipe for said tank, an outlet pipe for said reservoir, said pipes having spaced free ends in substantial alignment and a coupler for said pipes having a flexible hose encircling the free ends of said pipes, a heat conducting member within said hose in heat conducting contact with the free ends of said pipes and clamps encircling the hose and free ends of said pipes.

4. A liquid heater comprising a heating tank, a casing encircling and spaced from said tank, a reservoir mounted on said casing above and spaced from said tank, insulating material between said tank, casing and reservoir, an inlet pipe for said tank, an outlet pipe for said reservoir, said pipes having spaced free ends in substantial alignment, a rubber hose sleeved over the free ends of said pipes, a metal sleeve within said hose in heat conducting contact with the free ends of said pipes and clamps encircling the hose and free ends of said pipes.

5. A liquid heater comprising a heating tank, a casing encircling and spaced from said tank and provided with an opening therethrough, a reservoir mounted on said casing above and spaced from said tank, insulating material between said tank, casing and reservoir, an inlet pipe for said tank, an outlet pipe for said reservoir, said pipes being located within said casing and having their free ends adjacent the opening in said casing, the free end of said inlet pipe being threaded to receive a closure, a flexible hose located within said casing and detachably sleeved over the free ends of said pipes, clamps encircling the hose and free ends of said pipes, and a panel detachably secured to said casing for closing the opening therethrough.

6. A liquid heater comprising a heating tank, a casing encircling and spaced from said tank and provided with an opening through its upper portion, a reservoir mounted on said casing above and spaced from said tank and also above the opening, insulating material between said tank, casing and reservoir, an inlet pipe for said tank, an outlet pipe for said reservoir, said pipes being located within said casing and having their free ends adjacent the opening, a nipple extending through the lower portion of said casing and connected to said inlet pipe, means located within said casing for detachably connecting the free ends of said pipes, said nipple and inlet pipe having like free ends, and a panel detachably secured to said casing for closing the opening.

'7. A liquid heater comprising a heating tank, a casing encircling and spaced from said tank and provided with an opening, a reservoir mounted on said casing above and spaced from said tank and also above the opening, an inlet pipe for said tank, an outlet pipe for said reservoir, said pipes being located within said casing and having their free ends adjacent the opening, a nipple extending through said casing and connected to said inlet pipe, means located within said casing for connecting the free ends of said pipes, and a panel detachably secured to said casing for closing the opening.

8. A liquid heater comprising a heating tank, a casing encircling and spaced from said tank and provided with an opening therethrough, a reservoir mounted on said casing above and spaced from said tank, an inlet pipe for said tank, an outlet pipe for said reservoir, said pipes being located within said casing and having their free ends adjacent the opening in said casing, tubular means located within said casing for connecting the free ends of said pipes, and a panel detachably secured to said casing for closing the opening.

ANDREW P. RIT'IER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 970,095 McPheeters Sept. 13, 1910 1,540,361 Newell June 2, 1925 2,408,403 Babson et al Oct. 1, 1946 2,411,675 Alexander Nov. 26, 1946 

